Dehumidifier

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier may include a case comprising an air inlet and an air outlet, a dehumidifying unit which cools the air that enters the case through the inlet, condenses water vapor in the air, and thus reduces humidity of the air, a blowing unit which discharges the air having reduced humidity through the air outlet, a first/lower water container below the dehumidifying unit configured to collect the condensed water from the dehumidifying unit, and second/upper water container above the lower water container configured to receive the condensed water from the first/lower water container using a pump.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0163992, filed on Dec. 26, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a dehumidifier.

BACKGROUND

In general, a dehumidifier serves to reduce the indoor air humidity by taking in the air, cooling the air using a heat exchanger where the heat exchanger includes a condenser and an evaporator through which a coolant flows, and discharging the dehumidified air.

The heat exchanger reduces the air humidity, and cools the air to the point that generates condensed water. The condensed water is received in a water container located below of the heat exchanger. The water container is periodically emptied by a user to prevent the water container from overflowing.

However, since the water container is generally located below the dehumidifier, it is inconvenient for the user to bend down and lift up the water container to empty it. During the transportation of the water container filled with the condensed water, the water may spill.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2004-0029619 (published on Apr. 08, 2004) may disclose a conventional dehumidifier.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a dehumidifier configured to facilitate transporting and emptying a stored condensed water without a risk of spilling.

In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides a dehumidifier comprising a case that includes an air inlet and an air outlet, a dehumidifying unit configured to reduce air humidity by condensing water vapor cooling the air that enters into the case through the air inlet, a blowing unit configured to discharge or output the dehumidified air through the air outlet, and a condensed water collecting unit, wherein the condensed water collecting unit includes a first or lower water container which is located below the dehumidifying unit, configured to collect the condensed water from the dehumidifying unit, an upper or second water container above the first/lower water container and configured to receive the condensed water from in the first/lower water container, and a pump (e.g., configured to transfer the condensed water from the first/lower container to the second/upper container).

The upper water container may have a closed or sealed top surface with a handle.

The dehumidifying unit may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator through which a coolant is circulated, wherein the coolant exchanges heat with the air in the evaporator, resulting in dehumidification and cooling the air.

The dehumidifier may further include a water level sensor configured to detect a water level of one of the first/lower water container and the second/upper water container, and a controller configured to control the pump operation based on water level information of the first/lower and/or second/upper water containers obtained from the water level sensor. In one embodiment, the water level sensor is in the second/upper container, and informs a user whether the second/upper water container is full of water (e.g., at its highest level).

The dehumidifier may further include a water level sensor configured to detect a water level of the first/lower water container, and a controller configured to inform the user that the upper water container is full of water (e.g., at its highest level) based on the water level information of the first/lower water container received from the water level sensor and amount of the condensed water flow from the first/lower water container to the second/upper water container.

The condensed water collecting unit may include a condensed water supply hole in or at a lower portion (e.g., a lowermost surface) of the second/upper water container and through which the condensed water is enters, and a condensed water supply valve configured to open and close the condensed water supply hole.

The condensed water supply valve may include a valve body in a supporting member in the condensed water supply hole, an opening/closing member at an upper portion (e.g., an uppermost part) of the valve body having a larger diameter than the condensed water supplying hole, a flange at a lower portion (e.g., a lowermost part) of the valve body, and driving member at the valve body s between the flange and the supporting member. The condensed water supply valve is compressed by the pressure of the condensed water when the condensed water is pumped or supplied to the second/upper water container. The valve returns to its original state (closed) when the flow of water to the second/upper container stops.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed water supply hole of FIG. 1 is open according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed water supply hole of FIG. 1 is closed according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in their sizes, and a predetermined size is just exemplificative and not limitative. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit the same or similar characteristics.

The disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate ideal embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include modifications of form (e.g., by manufacturing).

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed water supplying hole of FIG. 1 is open, and FIG. 3 a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed water supply hole of FIG. 1 is closed according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a dehumidifier 10 according to embodiment(s) of the present invention may include a case 100, a dehumidifying unit 200, a blowing unit 300, a condensed water collecting unit 400, a water level sensor 500 and a controller (not shown). The case 100 comprises a frame having externally enclosing the dehumidifier 10. The dehumidifying unit 200, the condensed water collecting unit 400 and the water level detecting unit 500 may be in the case 100. The case 100 may include an air inlet 110 in a rear surface thereof to take in air, and an air outlet 120 in an upper surface thereof to discharge or output the air after the air is dehumidified by the dehumidifying unit 200. The case 100 may include a control panel 130 at a front surface thereof configured to allow a user to control an operation mode of the dehumidifier 10.

The control panel 130 may be connected or coupled to the controller. When the condensed water collecting unit 400 fills up with condensed water. The control panel 130 displays the information, showing that the condensed water collecting unit 400 is filled with condensed water. The controller may also automatically turn off or shut down the humidifier 10 when the condensed water collecting unit 400 is full.

The dehumidifying unit 200 serves to reduce humidity of the air. In the exemplary embodiment, the dehumidifying unit 200 may remove water vapor from the air by cooling the air with a coolant. A saturated humidity of the air is reduced when the temperature of the air decreases, the air is cooled to a saturation point, and the water vapor in the air is condensed to a liquid state, thus reducing the humidity of the air.

The dehumidifying unit 200, configured to reduce the humidity of the air according to the above-mentioned principle, may include a compressor 210, a condenser 220, an expansion valve (not shown) and an evaporator 230. The compressor 210, the condenser 220, the expansion value and the evaporator 230 are connected through pipes tubes or lines wherein a coolant flows through the pipe lines.

The compressor 210 may be located in a lower portion of the case 100, and the evaporator 230 is located at or in a front side of the air inlet 110. The air introduced through the air inlet 110 may exchange heat with the coolant in the evaporator 230. The condenser 220 is located at or in a front side of the evaporator 230, and the expansion valve is connected between the condenser 220 and the evaporator 230.

In one embodiment, for example, the dehumidifying unit 200 dehumidifies the air using the coolant. The dehumidifying unit 200 may cool the air using other cooling means, such as low temperature water or a thermoelectric cooling element. The dehumidifying unit 200 may remove the water vapor from the air and may generate the condensed water in various manners.

The blowing unit 300 may serve to induce the air to enter the case 100 and subsequently discharge or output the air outside of the case 100. Additionally, the blowing unit 300 may serve to cool the condenser 220 of the dehumidifying unit 200. The blowing unit 300 is located at a front side (a left side of FIG. 1) of the condenser 220 and below the air outlet 120. The blowing unit 300 may include a motor 310 and a fan 320 driven by the motor 310.

The condensed water collecting unit 400 is configured to collect the condensed water generated from the dehumidifying unit 200, and may include a first/lower water container 410 in the lower portion of the case 100, a second/upper water container 420 in an upper portion of the case 100, and a pump 430.

The first/lower water container 410 is located below the evaporator 230 and is configured to collect the condensed water drops from the evaporator 230. As illustrated in the drawings, the first/lower water container 410 may have a predetermined depth and an opening. Additionally, the container may have one of various shapes configured to collect the condensed water, such as cylindrical, cubic, hexagonal, conical, combinations thereof, etc.

The second/upper water container 420 may receive and store the condensed water from the first/lower water container 410. Specifically, the second/upper water container may receive the condensed water in the lower water container 410 using the pump 430. The second/upper water container 420 may be a container with a closed upper or top surface, and may also include a handle 421 on the top surface thereof, such that a user may easily grasp the upper water container 420. The second container may have an opening and/or outlet in or near the uppermost surface, with a cap thereon configured to removably seal the opening and/or outlet.

A condensed water supplying hole 422 may be at a lower portion (e.g., in a lowermost surface) of the second/upper water container 420 so that the second/upper water container 420 may receive the condensed water from the pump 430. The condensed water supply hole 422 may open and close by a condensed water supplying valve 440.

The condensed water supply valve 440 may include a valve body 441, an opening/closing member (e.g., a stopper) 442, a flange 443 and an opening/closing driving member 444. The valve body 441 may pass through a supporting member 424 in the condensed water supply hole 422 and may move up and down in the condensed water supplying hole 422. The supply member 424 may be attached at two or more points to the second container wall 250 in or above the condensed water supply hole 422, and have two or more openings therein. The opening/closing member 442 has a larger diameter than that of the condensed water supplying hole 422, and is located at an upper portion (e.g., the uppermost surface) of the valve body 441. When the valve body 441 moves up in the condensed water supply hole 422, the condensed water supply hole 422 is open, and when the valve body 441 moves down (e.g., completely or all the way down) in the condensed water supply hole 422, the condensed water supply hole 422 is closed by the opening/closing member 442.

The opening/closing driving member 444 is configured to provide driving force which moves down the valve body 441 when there is little or no upward pressure on the flange 443, and is located along the valve body 441 in a longitudinal direction in, above and/or below the condensed water supplying hole 422. The opening/closing driving member 444 may be an elastic member having restoring force, such as a spring.

The supporting member 424 is located in the condensed water supplying hole 422 and is configured to press the opening/closing driving member 444 from an upper side thereof so that the opening/closing driving member 444 generates the restoring force. The flange 443 is located at a lower end of the valve body 441 and is configured to press the opening/closing driving member 444 from a lower side thereof.

The condensed water supplying valve 440 may have various structures configured to open and close the condensed water supplying hole 422, and is not limited to a particular structure and type.

The first/lower and second/upper water containers 410 and 420 may be connected with each other through a transferring pipe 431, and the pump 430 is configured to pressurize and transfer the condensed water collected in the lower water container 410 to the upper water container 420. The transferring pipe 431 connected with the second/upper water container 420 may communicate with or be connected to the condensed water supplying hole 422, and a sealing member 425 is between an upper end of the transferring pipe 431 and the condensed water supplying hole 422 to transfer the condensed water without any leakage.

The water level sensor 500 is configured to detect a water level of the condensed water in the condensed water collecting unit 400, and may include a lower water level sensor 510 configured to detect the water level of the condensed water received in the first/lower water container 410 and an upper water level sensor 520 configured to detect the water level of the condensed water received in the second/upper water container 420. The water level sensor 500 is configured to transmit water level information of the first/lower and second/upper water containers, 410 and 420, to the controller.

The water level sensor 500 may be an electric conduction type water level sensor configured to measure a water level by applying a current to a conductive body, or a float based water level sensor configured to measure the water level using a floating member, or the like.

The controller is configured to control the operation mode of the dehumidifier 10 and the state of the condensed water collecting unit 400. Specifically, the controller is configured to set a maximum water level (hereinafter, referred to a “threshold water level”) of the condensed water, receive the water level information of the condensed water collecting unit 400 from the water level detecting unit 500, and stop an operation of the pump 430 when the condensed water in the condensed water collecting unit 400 reaches the threshold water level. Furthermore, the controller may be configured to provide a user with an alarm informing the user that it is necessary to empty the condensed water in the upper container 420.

Hereinafter, operations and effects of the dehumidifier 10 according to embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described.

Air humidity of a room may be reduced using the dehumidifier 10. A user can operate the dehumidifier 10 through, the blowing unit 300, and the dehumidifying unit 200 using the control panel 130. The air may be drawn into the case 100 through the air inlet 110 in the rear surface of the case 100 by the blowing unit 300, and subsequently it may be cooled and dehumidified by the dehumidifying unit 200.

In one embodiment, for example, the dehumidifying unit 200 may cool the air using a circulating coolant. Specifically, after the coolant circulates the compressor 210, the condenser 220, and the expansion valve, the coolant is changed to a low pressure gas. The coolant exchanges heat with the air passing through the evaporator 230 and evaporating in the evaporator 230. Further, the air exchanges heat with the coolant, and loses heat to the coolant. The air is cooled to its saturation point, and a part of the water vapor in the air is condensed into a liquid. The condensed water generated through the above-mentioned process drips down into the first/lower water container 410 below the evaporator 230 by gravity.

The blowing unit 300 is configured to discharge or output the dehumidified air through the air outlet 120 located in the upper or top surface of the case 100.

As air is continuously dehumidified, the amount of the condensed water collected in the first/lower water container 410 gradually increases. When the water level in the first/lower water container 410 reaches the threshold water level, the lower water level sensor 510 detects and transmits the state of the first/lower water container 410 to the controller.

The controller may operate the pump 430, and the pump 430 transfers the condensed water collected in the first/lower water container 410 to the second/upper water container 420. The condensed water may be transferred to the second/upper water container 420 through the transferring pipe 431 and the condensed water supplying hole 422. The condensed water pressurized by the pump 430 may press the flange 443 of the condensed water supplying valve 440 upwardly. Therefore, the valve body 441 and the opening/closing member 442 is moved up, and the condensed water supplying hole 422 is opened, and the condensed water may be transferred to the second/upper water container 420. The opening/closing driving member 444 may be compressed between the flange 443 and the supporting member 424, and thus the restoring force is generated at the opening/closing driving member 444. However, since the restoring force of the opening/closing driving member 444 is smaller than a water pressure of the condensed water, the condensed water supplying hole 422 is maintained in an open state.

If the air is further dehumidified, the second/upper water container 420 also reaches the threshold water level, and the upper water level sensor 520 may transmit the state information of the second/upper water container 420 to the controller. When the second/upper water container 420 fills with the condensed water, the controller stops the operation of the pump 430, and condensed water is not supplied to the upper water bucket 420 any longer. Therefore, since external force which presses up the flange 443 is removed, the flange 443, the valve body 441, and the opening/closing member 442 moves down from the restoring force of the opening/closing driving member 444. Thus, the condensed water will no longer be supplied to the upper water container 420, and water does not enter the pipe 431 from the second/upper container 420.

The controller may inform the user of the state of the second/upper water container 420 through the control panel 130, and the user may collect the second/upper water container 420 at the upper portion of the case 100 and empty it (e.g., for example by removing a cap secured to an opening in an upper surface of container 420). Since the second/upper water container 420 has a closed or sealed upper surface, the condensed water collected in the second/upper water container 420 will not spill. Further, the user may grasp the handle 421 of the second/upper water container 420 for easy removal and transportation of the container 420.

Hereinafter, a dehumidifier according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. However, since this embodiment is different from the previously described embodiment, in terms of controlling the water level sensor, only the difference is mainly described and the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts in both embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier 10′ according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the dehumidifier 10′ according to another embodiment of the present invention, a water level sensor 500′ configured to detect the state of the first/lower water container 410 may be provided to the lower water container 410 only.

And the controller (not shown) is configured to control an operation mode of the dehumidifier 10′ and the state of the condensed water collecting unit 400. The controller may control the pump 430 based on the water level information of the first/lower water container 410 received from the water level sensor 500′ and may recognize the water level state of the second/upper water container 420.

Specifically, the controller is configured to set the threshold water level of the second/upper water container 420, and may calculate whether the second/upper water container 420 is filled with the condensed water, based on the volume of the second/upper container 420 and the amount of water transferred from the first/lower water container 410 to the second/upper water container 420. Therefore, if the second/upper water container 420 is filled with the condensed water, the controller may stop the operation of the pump 430 and inform the user of the state of the second/upper water container 420.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a dehumidifier which may easily discharge the condense water.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dehumidifier, comprising: a case that includes an air inlet and an air outlet; a dehumidifying unit that reduces humidity of air by cooling the air that enters the case through the air inlet and condensing water vapor in the air; a blowing unit configured to discharge or output the dehumidified air through the air outlet; and a condensed water collecting unit, wherein the condensed water collecting unit includes: a first water container below the dehumidifying unit, configured to collect the condensed water from the dehumidifying unit; and a second water container above the first water container, configured to receive the condensed water in or from the first container using a pump.
 2. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein an upper or top surface of the second water container is closed or sealed, and include a handle thereon.
 3. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifying unit comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator through which a coolant is circulated.
 4. The dehumidifier of claim 3, wherein the coolant exchanges heat with the air in the evaporator, thus dehumidifying cooling the air.
 5. The dehumidifier of claim 1, further comprising: a water level sensor configured to detect a water level of at least one of the first water container and the second water container.
 6. The dehumidifier of claim 5, further comprising: a controller configured to control an operation of the pump based on water level information of the first/lower and/or second/upper water containers from the water level sensor, and inform a user that the second/upper water container is full.
 7. The dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein the water level sensor is configured to detect the water level of the first water container.
 8. The dehumidifier of claim 7, further comprising: a controller configured to inform a user that the second water container is full based on water level information of the lower water container received from the water level sensor and an amount of condensed water flow from the lower water container to the upper water container.
 9. The dehumidifier of claim 8, wherein the controller further is configured to inform the user that the second container is full based on volume of the second container.
 10. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the condensed water collecting unit comprises a condensed water supply hole at a lower portion of the second/upper water container and through which the condensed water passes, and a condensed water supply valve configured to open and close the condensed water supply hole.
 11. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water supplying valve comprises: a valve body a supporting member in the condensed water supply hole.
 12. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water supplying valve further comprises: an opening/closing member located at an upper portion of the valve body that has a larger diameter than the condensed water supplying hole.
 13. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water supplying valve further comprises: a flange located at a lower portion of the valve body.
 14. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water supplying valve further comprises: an opening/closing driving member on or along the valve body between the flange and the supporting member, and compressed by a water pressure of the condensed water when the condensed water is supplied to the second water container through the condensed water supplying hole.
 15. The dehumidifier of claim 1, further comprising the pump.
 16. A method of dehumidifying air, comprising: condensing water vapor in the air using a condenser; collecting condensed water in a first container below the condenser; and pumping condensed water through a one-way valve from the first container to a second container above the first container.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: drawing air across the condenser using a fan; and outputting dehumidified air using the fan.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing and emptying the second container.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting the condensed water comprises collecting the condensed water in a condensed water collecting unit that includes a condensed water supply hole below a second water container and through which the condensed water passes, and a condensed water supply valve configured to open and close the condensed water supply hole. 